The daily average number of COVID-19 cases in Delaware has risen by 50% in the last month, but is still miniscule compared to the thousands per day in January.
As of Thursday, the number of daily new cases, averaged over seven days, was 157.1, up from 94 on March 25. The number of hospitalizations was 25 Thursday, up 10 from March 25. Six people are in critical condition, up four since March 25, according to the Delaware Division of Public Health.
The division now is issuing monthly roundups of statistics, instead of weekly, but all the information can be found online and on social media each day.
Deaths remain low, with two during the last month, and 57 added to the rolls from a review of vital statistics.
The state will hold a memorial service May 3 for the dead and the people who lost family members and friends.
Delaware has seen 261,118 COVID cases since March 11, 2020.
The state is still warning people to watch out for the flu. There were 251 laboratory-confirmed cases reported the week of April 10-16, the most recent date for which flu statistics are available.
There have been 1,708 laboratory-confirmed cases for the current season, an increase of 807 since March 25.
The cases involved 793 individuals from New Castle County, 371 from Kent County and 544 from Sussex County.
Because only a fraction of case are confirmed by a lab, there likely are thousands of other cases that have occurred or are circulating.
In addition to staying home if you have flu-like symptoms, and taking antiviral medication as directed, DPH recommends that you:
- Practice social distancing by keeping your distance from well people if you have cold or flu-like symptoms.
- Wear a well-fitting face covering if you feel ill and have to go out in public to a doctor’s appointment or pharmacy.
- Wash your hands frequently with soap and water or use alcohol-based hand sanitizers.
- Cover coughs and sneezes with a tissue, and dispose of tissues immediately; if no tissue is available, cough or sneeze into your inner elbow.
Betsy Price is a Wilmington freelance writer who has 40 years of experience, including 15 at The News Journal in Delaware.
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